| Public Attorney's Office | |
| Seal: | Public Attorney's Office (PAO).svg |
| Formed: | as Citizen's Legal Assistance Office |
| Preceding6: | --> |
| Superseding6: | --> |
| Jurisdiction: | Philippines |
| Employees: | 2,096 lawyers (2018)[1] |
| Minister8 Name: | --> |
| Deputyminister8 Name: | --> |
| Chief1 Name: | Persida Acosta |
| Chief1 Position: | Chief Public Attorney |
| Chief9 Name: | --> |
| Parent Department: | Department of Justice |
| Child25 Agency: | --> |
| Keydocument6: | --> |
The Public Attorney's Office (PAO) of the Philippines is the public defender for all courts in the Philippines. It also provides other legal services to the poor. According to its mission statement it exists to provide to the poor "free access to courts, judicial and quasi-judicial agencies, by rendering legal services, counselling(sic) and assistance..."[2]
It is an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ). It is led by the Chief Public Attorney Persida Acosta,[3] who was appointed to the position on February 23, 2001 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
PAO was previously known as the Citizen's Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) which was created as a body under the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 1972 under the Integrated Reorganization Plan. It is mandated to provide free legal assistance to indigent people.[4] [5]
In 2006, the CLAO was renamed as the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) through Republic Act 9406. The renamed body retained its mandate.[6]
The PAO is headed by the Chief Public Attorney whose tenure is not defined by law.[1]
| Portrait | Secretary | Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persida Acosta | February 23, 2001 | incumbent | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | |
| Benigno Aquino III | ||||
| Rodrigo Duterte | ||||
| Bongbong Marcos | ||||